The ocean was like a blue land, only flatter.
If Maisie were here, she would surely be chattering about how far away the island was. Now, all she could hear was the sound of waves lapping against the ship's hull. Although it was a bit dull after a while, it was a lucky rhythm for the crew, meaning today was a good day for sailing.
Well, now there's another one, Ash thought. Footsteps pressed on the old teak planks, making a slight creaking sound—someone was walking towards her.
"I didn't expect you to really settle down on Sleeping Island," an old man with graying hair walked up to her, placing his hands on the railing. "Although it looks big, most of the land gets submerged by seawater at high tide, making it unsuitable for habitation. Why not live in Crescent Bay? It's the second largest island in the fjord, and there are still many uninhabited open spaces."
Jack One-Eye, captain of the Pretty Woman, true to his name, wore an eye patch that completely covered his left eye. He was also one of the few captains willing to transport supplies for witches. The fjord people weren't as hateful towards witches as the kingdom's mainland, but they also didn't like to deal with outsiders.
"Not everyone is as willing to deal with witches as you are," Ash smiled. "Sleeping Island does get submerged by seawater, but that's precisely why, despite being the third largest island in the fjord, it remains a deserted island."
"Third largest in area doesn't mean third largest in habitable area," Captain Jack shrugged. "If it can't be inhabited, it doesn't matter how big it is, like the Scorching Islands, for example."
"Witches are best at changing nature," she said seriously. "Besides, this island will become our home. As long as there is no suppression from the church, we can create a completely different world, a... brand new world." She paused for a moment. "How long has it been since you've been to Sleeping Island?"
The captain took off his hat and scratched the back of his head. "About a month, I guess. Last time I delivered a batch of witches plus a full hold of pearl rice. Honestly, the sight of those little girls frolicking on the ship stunned my crew. You know how hard it is for young lads to wander at sea, like a volcano about to erupt. Fortunately, I stopped them. Otherwise, my beloved ship would have been in trouble."
Ash automatically ignored the second half of his words. "A month is enough time for tremendous changes, Captain. I bet the Sleeping Island you see this time will be very different from what you remember."
"Is that so?" Jack whistled. "Then I'll look forward to it... Wait, what's that?" He leaned over the railing, tilting his head forward. "Monkey! Get up to the mast, there seems to be something ahead!"
The sailor known as Monkey nimbly climbed to the top of the mast and raised his spyglass. "Captain, that should be an island!"
"An island? What nonsense are you talking about?" The captain took out his compass and glanced at it. "There can't be any other islands near us besides Sleeping Island."
"But it really is an island, Captain, I swear!"
"Your oath is useless, let me see." Jack took off his hat.
"No, no, no, Captain, you better not come up here, it's windy," Monkey observed for a good while. "By the Three Gods!" he shouted in disbelief. "I know, that's Sleeping Island! It's gotten higher!"
...
When the Pretty Woman slowly approached the dock of Sleeping Island, almost everyone on board couldn't believe their eyes.
The towering island stood above the sea like a small mountain, the cliffs straight and steep, at least several zhang from the top.
Ash was visiting this island for the first time, and her reaction was much calmer than most, which Captain Jack saw as a symbol of composure and confidence.
"You win," he said with emotion. "I didn't expect you to be able to raise an island. No wonder those crazy church folks hate witches so much, this is almost comparable to the gods."
"Uncle Jack, it's not like you said, raising the island," the little girl standing by the dock to greet them smiled. "We just built a circle of walls around Sleeping Island. Come in with us later and you'll see." After saying that, she turned to Ash and bowed. "You're finally back, Lady Tilly has been missing you for a long time."
Ash touched her head. "No need to be so formal, Moriel. I'll have to trouble you with carrying things later."
"Leave it to me," the little girl patted her chest.
After the sailors moved the grain from the hold to the dock, Moriel summoned her magic servant, a light blue sphere with two arms that could change at will. It scooped up a dozen bags of grain into its arms, then its arms turned into a net, holding the bags steady, floating in the air. "Let's go," she said proudly.
"Oh, what a convenient ability," the captain clapped his hands. "See that, lads? All of you can't compare to a little girl."
The dock was built halfway up the island, and the group spiraled up the stairs. When they reached the top of the island, Ash instantly understood the meaning of building a circle of walls around the island.
It wasn't that the island had risen, but that they had raised the outline of the island. The entire Sleeping Island had become a basin, surrounded by a thick rim. And this rim was the wall that Moriel spoke of. Inside the wall were many downward stairs, and the bottom was the actual Sleeping Island.
"This... is unbelievable," Captain Jack smacked his lips. "You've turned the island into a city. Imagine what it will be like here at high tide? Good heavens, you'll be living below sea level!"
"That's right," Moriel covered her mouth and laughed. "So we have two docks, one built at the bottom of the sea, and one built at sea level. Of course, it's also correct to say that one is built on the surface and one is built in mid-air."
Walking to the center of the island, various houses had already been built here. Unlike the common wooden or brick houses, these buildings seemed to grow out of the ground, with the foundations completely connected to the ground. There was no doubt that they, along with the walls, were all the work of Lian.
"Sister Ash, the northernmost house is Lady Tilly's palace. I'll take the captain to deliver the goods, so you don't have to accompany me. Go see the Lady first," the little girl waved.
Ash nodded, said goodbye to the two, and walked quickly to the north. Along the way she saw many familiar faces, who bowed to her or waved with a smile. The witches' home, the phrase became brighter and brighter in Ash's heart, filling her with strength.
And the creator of this home was Tilly Wimbledon, the Witch Queen.
Unlike the royal palace, this spacious house had no guards and no locked doors. Ash walked straight through the front yard and into the hall, where she saw a familiar figure in front of her.
She tiptoed behind the other person and reached out to cover the gray-haired woman's eyes.
"I sensed you at the door," the other person laughed. "Don't forget how I found you in the crowd."
Transcendents have the ability to sense magic, and the sense between Transcendents is even stronger. This connection, which originates from magic, is like an invisible bond, connecting her and Tilly firmly together.
"I'm back," Ash said softly.
"Yeah," Tilly replied cheerfully. "Welcome home."